At Kviberg Cemetery in Gothenburg, the Church of Sweden has built a new crematorium directly adjacent to the old one. The design is by Erséus Architects, which is now part of FOJAB.

The building houses three distinctly different functions: the crematorium's technical operations, office and staff areas, and a dignified visitor area.

On the one hand, the operation of the crematorium is a purely industrial process that requires well-functioning logistics and advanced environmental technology. On the other hand, the site must provide a beautiful setting for those who visit the crematorium to attend a cremation or collect an urn of ashes.

Large glass sections in both the facades and the roof create a light and airy interior with rich views of the beautiful cemetery outside. The openness thus also allows passers-by to look in, and is a way to de-dramatize the building.

The building is square in plan, a basic shape that suits the simple floor plan that has created useful rooms and flows for the business. To achieve a measure of poetry in the exterior, the four sides have been made slightly concave, and windows have been placed in a playful composition against the strict basic shape.

The facade's folded fiber concrete contrasts with the brick of the old crematorium. This gives the building its own strong character. What is old and what is new becomes clear and the two help to reinforce each other.